When you're applying for a civilian position in the energy sector, the right resume is your ticket through the door. The wrong one will slam that door shut. Length, format and word choices are different for a civilian-targeted job than the military CV you've likely compiled over the course of your time in uniform.
A well-crafted resume that incorporates the terms of the industry you're targeting to succinctly describe how your skills fulfill a company's needs will catch the eye of a recruiter. It's a snapshot of why you should be selected from the larger applicant pool for further consideration. But it shouldn't be a highly-detailed play-by-play of your career. Too much information will overwhelm that recruiter and land your resume in the "circular file."
"Don't make the mistake of handing off your federal resume to a civilian employer in ANY industry," said Janet Farley, career coach, military spouse and author of Quick Military Transition Guide: Seven Steps to Landing a Civilian Job. "The federal resume is a glorified job application that gets into too much detail for private industry."
For younger veterans with less professional experience, one to one-and-a-half pages will likely be sufficient length to hit relevant points. As a general rule, Farley recommends two to three pages at the most, preferably two for mid-career and higher-level transitioning veterans entering the private sector. Cut out content such as employers' addresses, supervisor contact information, salary, military schools, laundry lists of awards that don't relate to the skills you're showcasing and your hiring eligibility. Simple, straightforward chronological order is your best bet, she said.
Write your resume not just for the industry you're pursuing, but even down to the specific job. If you're applying for multiple jobs with the same company, each of those resumes should be tailored to the language and requirements of each specific job description, said Michele Gorun, global recruitment programs supervisor for Chevron.
"My suggestion is to really take the time and customize it," Gorun said. "You're not changing what you've done, you're highlighting skills so that it shines a little bit more. Your summary is a little bit stronger as it relates to that discipline."
Carefully read the job description and tailor your resume to show how your skills fit that description. This can help you cut down on content and specifically target the position you're applying for.
"You'll need to really tighten that up by getting rid of a big part of it and focusing instead on what you have that is relevant to what the employer wants," Farley said.
Thom Besch, a retired Army colonel who recently transitioned to a second career in the energy sector, agreed.
"It's not easy, trying to be concise but also descriptive," he said.
Besch relied on a trusted network of friends and the DoD's Transition Assistance Program (TAP) to help him through resume revisions. That feedback helped him craft a resume geared toward the energy sector that eventually landed him his first job out of uniform.
"I had lots of people look at it," he said. "I got comments from lots of people I trusted. I sent it out to friends that had already made that transition or to the TAP counselor."
Resumes that use appropriate key words and show a clear connection between the skills of a candidate and the job requirements stand out, Gorun said.
"It's a great competitive edge, to help you stand out a little bit," she said. "I always give advice for transitioning military to really do their homework and understand the skillset and the jobs."
As you're condensing those skills, be sure you use clear civilian terms rather than military jargon (Read more vocab tips here).
"Avoid using the military language you know and love," Farley said. "Instead, use the language of the energy industry. If you don't know what that is, you have to find out what it is and relate your skills to it."
If you're not sure how to get started, you can find resume templates online at sites like ResumeGenius, LiveCareer and Instant Resume Templates. Look online at job postings in your industry to identify key words that will catch the right recruiter's attention.
Stick with key words, but avoid buzz words, Gorun said. Key words are the ones that very specifically describe skills and achievements, such as "cyber security" or "IT analyst work." Buzz words are vague, unquantifiable and cliché, like "team player" or "good with people."
Farley recommends that in addition to culling job descriptions and ads for key words, you also go through the company's website to get a sense of how they communicate and describe themselves. If you see the same words over and over again, work those words into your resume in ways that show you match the company's values and culture.
"Read over the jobs they offer that are posted and isolate words that may work in your resume for the job you want," she said.
Employee profiles on LinkedIn can give you valuable insight on terms to use and talents to highlight. You can also google industry terms for lists like the U.S. Energy Information Administration's online glossary. Some private energy companies have similar lists, Farley said.
Another good potential resource is a military-focused headhunter. Typically they don't charge job seekers; they get paid by companies soliciting new hires. Ask other recently transitioned veterans for recommendations on which ones to work with.
"The reputable ones can act as a true liaison between the worlds," Farley said.
Once again, LinkedIn is another good source of potential contacts. Check employee profiles from companies you're interested in to see if there are any veterans you can offer to connect with, Gorun said. You can also join military-specific networking sites like RallyPoint, which was designed in part to help service members find jobs in the private sector.
Some corporations even have sections of their websites dedicated to transitioning service members, like Chevron's U.S. Military Veterans page. So search specific company sites with terms like "veteran," "transitioning military" or "service members."
Besch also recommends you turn back to that network of friends and mentors, particularly those in the industry you're breaking into. Given the tight-knit nature of the military community, you may very well have a potential mentor in your circle of friends who is happy to point you in the right direction.
"You've got to network, which is hard to do if you haven't been there," Besch said. "If you're coming back from Alaska or (Fort) Bragg, then you've got to establish that network quickly. You can't be shy ... that's how it works in the outside word certainly. You have to bring something to the table."
Photo Credits: Digital Vision, Getty Images
This story is presented by our sponsor Chevron. For more information, visit chevron.com.
©2015 Chevron Corporation. No U.S. military endorsement is implied.
